Agriculture
Secretary Arthur R. Brown, Jr., today denounced
recent criticism of the Farmland Preservation Program's
land acquisition practices as nothing more than
a campaign of disinformation intended to discredit
New Jersey's nationally recognized program. Brown
is chairman of the State Agriculture Development
Committee, which administers the Farmland Preservation
Program. "Raising these baseless accusations may
serve personal interests, but it certainly does
not further the interests of farmland preservation
efforts or the citizens of New Jersey who have
overwhelmingly supported them," said Brown. Critics
have alleged that the Farmland Preservation Program
has spent millions of dollars to purchase wetlands
that have no value, and that certain landowners
have benefited from the program more than others
- charges that Brown termed "ridiculous." "If there
are wetlands on a farm and they have no value,
we don't pay one penny for those wetlands," Brown
said. "Secondly, the determination of the purchase
price for any farm is based on appraisals from
two independent appraisers. It's an objective process
that makes it unfair to suggest that one landowner
somehow benefited more than another." Brown spoke
at the Huff N Puff Farm in Springfield Township,
Burlington County. The purchase of that farm, owned
by William Pettit, Sr., was among those questioned
in a news report. Specifically, Brown pointed out
that two independent, licensed appraisers determine
the value of any farm that the Farmland Preservation
Program considers purchasing. If there are wetlands
on a farm, the appraisers determine whether they
have any development value. The appraisers adjust
the recommended price accordingly. Brown also noted
that it is inaccurate to assume that all wetlands
have no development value. Wetlands can add value
to a property by permitting a developer to further
develop upland areas through clustering. They can
be used as front and rear setbacks to satisfy zoning
requirements. Some wetlands were cleared years
ago and have been continually farmed. These agriculturally
modified wetlands in some cases may be built upon. "It
is important to remember that wetlands do not have
absolute protection from development under the
law," said Judy Jengo, executive director of the
Garden State Preservation Trust. "They only become
fully protected once deed restricted. Before this
protection is secured, they are vulnerable to development
because the law provides for wetlands development
permits to be granted in numerous circumstances. "When
appraisals are done, less value is nevertheless
attributed to the wetlands portion of a piece of
property because the development value is likely
to be less." As a result, the farmland preservation
program does not overcompensate landowners for
their property which contains wetlands, she said. "The
Farmland Preservation Program is mandated by law
to evaluate farms for preservation based on their
quality for agricultural purposes," said Gregory
Romano, executive director of the State Agriculture
Development Committee. "That includes looking at
factors like soil quality and the number of tillable
acres, the farm size, boundaries and buffers, and
the local commitment to agriculture." Because wetlands
often can be farmed, the SADC first considers their
role in an agricultural setting, evaluating how
they benefit the long-term viability of the farm.
In the second part of the process, appraisals are
conducted to determine the farm's development value,
which takes into full consideration any potential
development value of the wetlands. "Our goal is
to ensure the viability of the agricultural industry
by purchasing the best farms available," said Romano. "But
let there be no question -- when we buy these farms
their purchase prices are based on their development
values. That means we look at wetlands and all
of the other factors that determine their development
values so that we purchase these farms at the best
possible prices." The State Agriculture Development
Committee, which administers the state's farmland
preservation program, is made up of a broad range
of interests. Chaired by the Secretary of Agriculture,
it includes the members from the state Departments
of Community Affairs, Treasury, and Environmental
Protection, Rutgers University, the general public
and farmers. County Agriculture Development Boards
which submit the proposed farms to the state for
funding are made up of county planning board members,
freeholder members, representatives of the Rutgers'
Cooperative Extension Service, and the State Soil
Conservation Committee, in addition to farm members.

"One
of the strengths of our program is the broad
diversity of the SADC and CADBs," said Romano. "The
members provide strong leadership, a commitment
to the state's taxpayers, and a commitment to
retaining a strong agriculture industry."